A good project board (or innovation steering group) is valuable asset that should last a lifetime if you look after it. So treat it with respect, put effort into maintaining relationships. Innovation needs guidance, maintain your board with a variety of members with different viewpoints and experience. This will help ensure you get both the right critique and the right insights from all angles. Regularly Wax (lyrical) to them about progress in your current innovation projects.

For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post

As you rise up the slope of enlightenment to the plateau, don’t get arrogant. Your understanding is rising and so are the returns. But scaling an innovation has its kinks and bumps too. At this point, when it seems the hardest and most dangerous times are past, it is easy to loose concentration and make a silly mistake. Innovation leaders often have personality types that don’t make them strong natural ‘completer / finishers’. They start thinking about the next buzz and the next wave before the job is completely done. Don’t fall off before at the end, in front of the crowd with your face in the dirt just at the very time when you should be taking the applause. And remember to thank your support team vociferously so they will want to come with you next time; innovation adoption leaders are quiet heroes.

For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post

Innovation adoption hype cycle surfers must stay cool at all times. This is especially true in the plunge from the peak of inflated expectations to the trough of disillusionment. Nine times out of ten the hype cycle will bottom out and start to recover, but for those coming on the ride with you it won’t feel like that – especially if they are newbies. As an innovation leader you must maintain your poise and your external confidence. Let the competitors give up – your visible tenacity, continued and assured evangelism is what will help you win. The thrill, pace and excitement at the start of the wave may slow down, but you must bring this thing all the way into the shore to reap the final reward and ultimate respect.

For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post

Don’t even bother to make a half hearted attempt at adopting the innovation on this wave, you will be certain to fail. Decide when to go and then put your full energy into it. Innovation isn’t easy. Changing anything, particularly in larger organizations will always turn out tougher than you initially expect. Staying the course will require your full concentration. Don’t wander, don’t delegate too much – if you let your attention drift sudden subtle changes in the wave could throw you off balance. There are many unknown twists and turns you must be alert to and be prepared to take quite suddenly in order to keep the initiative afloat. This is continuous learning.

For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post

Once you have decided that this is the right innovation wave, you must judge carefully when you will you go with it– before the peak, at the peak, after the peak? Perhaps you want to wait until almost the trough. Maybe you should take it easy and ride this one in on the plateau. Make an active decision based on your needs and circumstances. Many factors and other priorities in your organization have a bearing. Even if you are usually an aggressive risk taker, your energy may have been sapped by the last couple of waves and it could be time to take a breather, to let your organization’s heart rate settle down so it is ready to accept more change. Don’t let hype dictate your timing decision.

For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post

]]> http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/2009/04/28/rules-for-riders-5-pick-your-spot/feed/ 0 http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/2009/04/20/rules-for-riders-4-you-choose-the-wave/ http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/2009/04/20/rules-for-riders-4-you-choose-the-wave/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:05:03 +0000 Mark Raskino http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/?p=490

As you get ready to go, remind yourself of the key behavior that will help differentiate you from the competition – you choose the innovation wave, it doesn’t choose you. No matter how inviting it looks – if isn’t the right one, don’t go with it just because the crowd of surfers around you seem to be doing so. If everyone else takes this one and you miss it – the next one might be yours while they are all beached. Sometimes groups of people do all make the same mistake at the same time and perhaps they will all wipe-out. Think independently.

For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post

]]> http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/2009/04/20/rules-for-riders-4-you-choose-the-wave/feed/ 0 http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/2009/04/14/rules-for-riders-3-keep-to-your-comfort-zone/ http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/2009/04/14/rules-for-riders-3-keep-to-your-comfort-zone/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:04:37 +0000 Mark Raskino http://blogs.gartner.com/hypecyclebook/?p=486

Once you get started, it’s very easy to get carried away and to be tempted out of your depth. Remember that’s what the hype is all about – getting swept along with the enthusiasm of a market crowd. It’s a human anthropological trait. We all holler out from the stands at a football game in a way we would never do in private.
How risky does this innovation look and what stage is the wave really at?  Even if you personally like the look of it, consider whether your current organization really has the cultural appetite and ability to come with you.  If not, are you really prepared to swim out alone as a maverick?  There may be a lot stake.  You might be able to swim that far out and survive on your own until the wave builds up and everyone wants to join. Or you might get cramp and find yourself out in the cold, gulping for air. If you decide to go, consider whether the waters are safe. Maybe you are tough enough to take getting stung a couple of times along the way. But check for sharks – there are people out there so desperate to say anything that will sell their ideas, they might eat you alive.

For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post

The graphic above was originally drafted to be an end-piece for the book – a ‘photocopy and keep’ aid to help people remember the realities of the Hype Cycle’s twists and turns as they wrestle with project situations and perhaps need to regain their perspective.

For both Jackie and I, this was our first book and of course we learned a lot in the process of writing it.  One of the lessons is that not every idea and observation you have really fits the work neatly. So you have wield the scissors occasionally during the drafting process to cut things out.  Sometimes that can hurt a little – when others tell you something really has to go. Our wonderful supporting professional writer Kent Lineback helped us to make the harder decisions. One saving phrase nowadays is “it can always be used in the book blog – it won’t go to waste”.  So here it is.

In future posts – I’ll take you through ‘the rules’ one by one. Stay tuned.

P.S.  Why rules for ‘riders’? Jackie was originally keen to call the book ‘riding the hype cycle’ but our editors convinced us that sounded a bit too passive. They proposed we center it on ‘Mastery’ instead becuase it creates a better sense of control.  I took some convincing at the time – but I am now very sure it was the right decision.